Stopper and method of making the same



July 26, 1938. A. R. MOTTUR STOPPER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME' Filed Dec.- 3. 1937 BY M M 41 ATTOR FGE .S

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES STOPPER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Alfred B. Mottur, Brooklyn, N. Application December 3, 1937, Serial No. 177,910

4 Claims.

This invention relates to stoppers for bottles and other containers and the method of manufacturing the same, an object being to provide a simplified method for pressing the parts of 5 stopper in place ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper with a head formed with a compressed peripheral part adapted to pinch the disk for holding the same in place.

10 A further object is the provision of an improved method wherein by successive steps a metal disk or disk of other material is pressed into a piece of wood and the wood caused to flow over the peripheral edge of the disk so as to hold 15 the same in place.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through parts of a die structure used in forming the head of a stopper according to the present invention;

20 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the pressing operation completed;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the stopper after it has been formed;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown 25 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to the left-hand part of Fig. 2, illustrating how the parts press the grain of wood extending from the obverse to the reverse face 30 of the head;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the first step in the construction of a modified form of structure to that illustrated in Fig. 3;

35 Fig. 6a is a view similar to the left-hand part of Fig. 6 but showing the parts in an advanced position;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a different die structure for completing the press- 40 ing operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the construction of head illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the left-hand part of Fig. 7 and illustrat- 45 ing how the wood is caused to flow over and bend down the edge of the disk;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified structure wherein a plurality of disks of any desired material are forced into the depres- 5 sions and held therein by friction.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, l indicates part of a die designed to receive a plunger 2. .An ejecting plat-e 3 is arranged in die I and may be actuated through a 55 stem 4 by any desired means for forcing the wooden head out of the die after the pressing operation has been completed. It will be noted that the plunger 2 is provided with notches 6 and 1 whereby the extension 8 is of the same size as the disk 9. This disk is preferably made 5 of metal and is pressed directly into the wooden head 5 as shown in Fig. 2. The head 5 may be of any desired shape but is preferably circular and the grain l0 extends vertically as shown in the drawing, or from the obverse to the reverse face. By a single operation the disk 9 is positioned in a depression in the obverse face of the head 5. When compressing the wood, as shown in Fig. 2, the die I prevents any expan sion and, consequently, the head is condensed or pressed particularly around the peripheral part whereby the peripheral part will fit the edge of the disk 9 and hold the same in place. By compressing the inner part or wall 5' more than the outer part or wall 5" there is produced an inward pressure or tension on the disk 9 while the part or outer wall 5" prevents bulging or expansion outwardly at this point. The disk 9 may be provided with advertising or other matter without departing from the spirit of the invention.

After the head 5 has been constructed as just described, a body II is secured thereto in any desired manner, preferably by glue. The body I I may be wood'or other material, but is preferably cork. The head 5 forms a desirable hand hold for applying and removing the body I I when the stopper is in use.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of plunger 2' is shown wherein there is a central extension 8' and a single notch I3. By reason of this structure one or more disks 9 may be pressed directly into the wooden head 5 leaving an annular projection l4 surrounding the disk. After the operation shown in Fig. 6 has been completed, the plunger 2' is removed and a plunger 2" is moved downwardly and presses against the disk or disks 9 for holding the same in place while the plunger die I5 functions. It will be noted that this die is provided with an offset part I6 and a pressing part I1. As this portion of the plunger presses against the upstanding part I 4 it compresses the same and causes the inner part of the annular upstanding part M to overflow and form a bead l8.

At the same time, the bead I8 is compressed to such an extent that the peripheral edge portion IQ of disk 9 will be depressed as shown in Fig. 9. It will be seen from Figs. 6 and 7 that the plunger 2" is of less diameter than the extension 8' so that after the plunger 2" is in position as shown in Fig. 7, there will be a space between the plunger and the annular upstanding part I4. However, when the plunger die 15 moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7 it will compress the entire upstanding part I4 and cause part to overflow and fill up the space so that the finished product will be as shown in Fig. 9. After the disk 9' has been completed as just described the head 5 is removed and the cork body ll secured in place by glue or other adhesive. When the stopper is completed it will appear as shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 10 a further modified structure is shown which is similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but the modification merely consists of the provision of a deeper depression 20 so as to receive a pluagainst removal.

2. A stopper comprising a body, a wooden head and a disk countersunk in the upper face of the head, said head having an integral annular flange overlapping the edge of said disk.

3. A stopper comprising a body, a wooden head having a' central depression in its obverse face, and a disk fitting in said depression with the edge bent slightly downwardly, said edge being embedded wholly in said head.

4. A stopper comprising a body, a disk-shaped wooden head formed with the grain thereof extending from the obverse to the reverse face, said head having a centrally positioned depression, and a disk positioned flatwise in said depression, the material of said head being more dense at the peripheral edge of said depression than at the remaining part of the head and positioned to pinch said disk so as to hold the disk frictionally ALFRED R. MOTTUR. 

